EBI2/GPR183

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) induced receptor 2 (EBI2; also known as GPR183) is an orphan member of the 7TM receptor family A. EBI2 is a constitutively active seven-transmembrane receptor. EBI2 has been placed in varying 7TM receptor subgroups by different phylogenetic analyses as being a target of peptide or lipid ligands. EBI2 constitutively activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in a pertussis toxin-insensitive manner. EBI2 is up-regulated up to 200-fold in B cells following EBV infection.

EBI2 activation stimulates immune cell migration and has been genetically linked to autoimmune diseases including type 1 diabetes. Small molecule modulators of EBI2 can be useful for probing the function of the receptor and its relevance to human diseases.